take your answer off the air...

Talker's MagazineThe quirky talk radio trade mag. Check the Talk Radio Research Project- it's not very scientific, but places on the top 15 talkers list (scroll down to Talk Radio Audiences By Size)) are as hotly contested as Emmys (and mean just about as much).

The AdvocateNo, not THAT Advocate... it's the Northwest Progressive Institute's Official Blog.

Media MattersDocumentation of right-wing media in video, audio and text.

Orcinushome of David Neiwert, freelance investigative journalist and author who writes extensively about far-right hate groups

Hominid Views"People, politics, science, and whatnot"
Darryl is a statistician who fights imperialism with empiricism, gives good links and wry commentary.

Jesus' General An 11 on the Manly Scale of Absolute Gender, a 12 on the Heavenly Scale of the 10 Commandments and a 6 on the earthly scale of the Immaculately Groomed.

Irrational Public Radio "informs, challenges, soothes and/or berates, and does so with a pleasing vocal cadence and unmatched enunciation. When you listen to IPR, integrity washes over you like lava, with the pleasing familiarity of a medium-roast coffee and a sensible muffin."

The Moderate VoiceThe voice of reason in the age of Obama, and the politics of the far-middle.

News Hounds Dogged dogging of Fox News by a team who seems to watch every minute of the cable channel so you don't have to.

HistoryLinkFun to read and free encyclopedia of Washington State history. Founded by the late Walt Crowley, it's an indispensable tool and entertainment source for history wonks and surfers alike.

right-wing blogs we like

The Reagan WingHearin lies the real heart of Washington State Republicans. Doug Parris runs this red-meat social conservative group site which bars no holds when it comes to saying who they are and who they're not; what they believe and what they don't; who their friends are and where the rest of the Republicans can go. Well-written, and flaming.

September 25, 2010

Old Seattle Radio Saturday: happy 76th, pat o'day!

If you're not a Pepsi Generation graybeard, you might know
him only as the guy on the teevee machine pumping Schick-Schadel
Hospital, the drug and alcohol recovery spa.

But
Pat is way more than a spokeshole. Besides owning a significant chunk
of the establishment, (having sobered up there in 1986) he was, as
historian Peter Blecha describes him at HistoryLink, the Pacific Northwest entertainment's "... Chairman of the Board, the Grand
Poobah, the Top Dog, the Big Kahuna."

New York City had Alan Freed,
Boston had Arnie Ginsberg, Los Angeles had Hunter Hancock, and Seattle
had O’Day. As Seattle’s highest-profile DJ of the 1960s and the region’s
dominant dance promoter, Pat O’Day ran KJR AM and Northwest rock ‘n’ roll for
nearly a decade.

Known for his soft-spoken humility and bashfulness, Pat lives today at Friday Harbor in the San Juan Islands where he sells real estate to rich Californians.

He's an author (It Was All Just Rock 'n' Roll), and a huge piece of the rock 'n' roll nostalgia of a generation. He pioneered many things in Top 40's radio, and one of the first DJs in the nation to experiment with an “Oldies” format.

He's a damn Republican, yet a friend of this blog who infrequently posts here about radio business, and radio history. Read his bouquets to Glenn Beck here, his advice to Seattle programmers, here, and here.

I saw Mr.O'Day with Jimi Hendrix in 1968 [February I think] when Pat accompanied Jimi to Garfield HS, to speak to students assembled in the gym.

Having seen Hendrix in concert the nite before, [and having my consciousness permanently restructured], I was struck by Jimi's utter lack of pretension. He seemed like what he was: a nice guy from the neighborhood. Though if it turns out he was just visiting from a distant galaxy, I wouldn't be surprised.

Not only was Pat O'Day the architect and host of the greatest 24-hr/day party in the world--KJR in the 1960s--his professionalism, his life-positive enthusiasm, makes him an inspirational person. He enhances the quality of life.

"soft-spoken humility and bashfulness?" He's a good guy, but the Pat O'Day I would never describe him as humble.
That said, Pat helped many, many young bands. That is part of why he is remembered so fondly from those days. He put so many Seattle musician and Seattle radio on the map.

Tom Doughnahue, the father of free form rock on fm, once said that top 40 stations are afraid of trusting their own judgement. Their afraid of playing the wrong record. Well Pat is certainly an exception. We would not be enjoying those Wailers and Ventures songs (as well as a lot of others) He also put every nickle he had on the line for the rock of the 80,s format on KYYX. Ive talked to a lot of local muscians who have a lot of nice things to say about Pat. He may be a republican, but nobodys perfect.

Pat O Day helped to promote bands when there was no one co- ordinating ticket sales, promotion, even setting up equipment at gigs. Alot of concert money was cash and going out the back door until O Day came along to plug that hole. From Hendrix to Elvis, and so many local bands, people sought out his management. He owned dance halls where people could be exposed to music and have fun. Growing up in seattle in the 60's he ran the best rock stations with them most innovative dj's and sound. You would have to be someone who is confident, with a big ego to do this, however he did it well. Pat isnt perfect, but i know seattle is a better place for him being here. Happy 76th Pat, i wish you many more.

I fondly remember going to a concert in the Seattle Center Coliseum (Key Arena to you young pups) in August of 1964 with my big sister. Pat introduced the band late in the evening after forcing us to listen to a hand full of other bands for a couple hours before. I don't remember any of the other bands but there is no forgetting the Beatles. Couldn't hear them because of all the screaming going on. It was worth every bit of the $4.00 ticket.
Thanks Pat. Happy Birthday.

Happy Birthday, Pat. Unlike a number of radio people, you are accountable for your past misgivings. If you are a Republican, that's OK too. I will say that Democratics have become a real thorn in our collective sides lately, whether this blog acknowledges it or not - they never want to be accountable for anything, because they believe they are entitled (note I am not saying that Republicans aren't that way - because a good number of them are, but they are currently out of power). OK, enough of the sidebar...

I remember KJR and Pat O'Day. If your mom was Janie the I made a wall plack for her to give to you. It was you in a bathtub, wearing overalls and a baseball cap. If I am wrong then "my bad". Thank you for all the years you gave us growing up.

KVI am 570 KHz Visit the burnt-out husk of one of the seminal right-wing talkers in all the land. Here's where once trilled the reactionary tones of Rush Limbaugh, John Carlson, Kirby Wilbur, Mike Siegel, Peter Weissbach, Floyd Brown, Dinky Donkey, and Bryan Suits.
Now it's Top 40 hits from the '60's & '70's aimed at that diminishing crowd who still remembers them and can still hear.

KTTH am 770 KHzRight wing home of local, and a whole bunch of syndicated righties such as Glennn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Michael Medved, Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham, Lars Larsony, and for an hour a day: live & local David Boze.